Hyūga Shigeo's thoughts darkened, his gaze turning cold.
The others, startled by his words, immediately escorted him to Konoha's central office to meet with the Sandaime Hokage (Third Hokage), Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Inside the spacious office, the Third paced back and forth, visibly uneasy. At his side, Tsunade was tense, her palms damp with sweat. She could scarcely believe it—Orochimaru conducting experiments on living humans?
A sharp gleam flickered in Hiruzen's eyes as Hyūga Shigeo entered. The five-year-old quietly scanned the room, not speaking a word.
The Hokage turned to the ANBU (Special Assassination and Tactical Squad).
"Any word on Orochimaru?"
"None yet. The search is ongoing!"
"Good. No matter what, bring him back alive!" The Third sighed and sat heavily at his desk. His eyes fell on the boy.
"You are Hyūga Shigeo. Aren't your eyes blind?"
The Hokage remembered him. His parents had died as martyrs for the village. Born of the prestigious Hyūga clan, yet without the clan's hallmark Byakugan (White Eye).
"My eyes can see at night. The doctor said my illness is called crystalline lens abnormality." Shigeo deliberately offered this explanation, hiding the truth—his possession of the concealed Rinnegan (Samsara Eye).
"I see… it was my oversight not to know." The Third nodded, then leaned forward.
"Tell me everything that happened tonight. And about that girl."
"Alright…"
Shigeo carefully recounted his encounter with Orochimaru—how he had been abducted, as well as the events on the night of the Kyūbi (Nine-Tails) attack, when he had been taken to a hidden laboratory.
Of course, he concealed the truth: that he had killed Orochimaru and awakened the Mirror System. Instead, he claimed that Orochimaru had suddenly collapsed, convulsing on the ground, giving him the chance to escape.
When the tale ended, Hiruzen stared at Shigeo in shock, disbelief etched on his face.
"You mean Orochimaru already captured you two nights ago?"
"Yes. I didn't know who he was at first. Later, this onee-san showed me a picture. That's when I realized—it was him who took me that night." Shigeo pointed at Shizune. His words were flawless, leaving little room for doubt.
"Orochimaru… Orochimaru!" The Hokage's fist slammed against the desk, his body trembling with fury. Once, Orochimaru had been his prized student—the pride of Konoha, one of the Densetsu no Sannin (Three Legendary Shinobi). And now, he had abandoned the path, experimenting on innocent children.
Children had gone missing in recent months. At first, they had been from outside the village. But now he had targeted Konoha's own—and even a child believed to be blind. Worse, he had used foreign agents to do his bidding.
It was intolerable.
The Third seethed, unable to sit still. His gaze shifted between Shigeo and Shizune.
"Take him home."
"Hokage-sama," Shizune protested, "that girl is still at large. What if she comes back to target him again? This is already their second attempt."
Tsunade's eyes softened at the words. She stepped forward, crouched before Shigeo, and began examining him with Iryō Ninjutsu (Medical Ninjutsu).
Shigeo remained silent, meeting her gaze without flinching.
Moments later, Tsunade's eyes widened in astonishment.
"Your body… it already has chakra flowing through it?"
Shigeo's heart sank. To possess chakra but fail to suppress it—such a troublesome burden. And now, they had noticed.
(End of Chapter)
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